San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-06

slight drawbacks that could easily have
been remedied. She had known no life
beyond the home lifs,-thp whrl of
great cities, the licty. fashion. excite
ment, and friyOl.ty uf life We're deal
letters to her.
When the leay 3 IN TO shoot
when the primr ISes cume,-when the
pretty white lambs skipped in the mead
ows. when the calves Tapped the sweet
new milk she took them.-when the
chickens grew and the blue pigeons
whirlgd and circln Il in the air,-wicn
the fruit ripened in the meadow. and
the corn stood in golden sheaves,-thOse
were her seasons OF happiness and pleas
ure.
The vanity that is 50 natural to young
and especially pretty girls had not reach
ed her yet. She was quite content with
plain print or muslin dress, and "A hat
without feathers.
She had no idea that she was consid-
cred the pTettiest girl in the county,
and that people often called at the farm
for the pleasure of seeing her; she had
no idea that young Laurence RaintOn
worShipped the very ground she stood
upon, that the simple, honest young fell
low looked up to her as to some beauti-
lul anu NUlllti nave Uttli tOllltlll
to die for one smile from her. She had
wondered why he came to Larch Hill so
often; why he was SO interested in tine
blue pigeons, which were hers, and
never cared for the white ones, her
mothers especial care: why he paid so
much attention to her poultry. advising
her what to give them and what to with
hold; the same over her birds and her
flowers. He must be wonderfully fond
of such things. She was very kind TO
him, with good-natured kindness that
was death to the hopes of any lovers.
He was one year Older than herself, and
a girl of eighteen is in reality always
about five years older than young man
of nineteen. She never thought of him
rs a sweetheart, or even as a probable
lover; he was nice boy with whom she
spent at times pleasant half-hour over
the birds and flowers. Why his face
flushed when she spoke to him, why he
trembled if she came near him she did
not know. and, perhaps, cared less.
Then came bright June morning;
true, the clover meadows were still I'M
der water, and the corn was widowed,
but this morning the sun seemed to re-
pent of his misdeeds and tried his best
to atone; he shone with the brightest
warmth. The birds, who had thought
for some weeks that it was all Overwith
them, cheered up and began to sing; the
flowers, who were all respondent over
the absence of their lover. raised their
heads to salute him once more: the bees
and butterflies took heart:even the rain
beaten trees and grass looked up again.
A fair morning. The blue pigeons
were restless, and Rlth took them some
corn. One of the pr ttiest sights in the
world was to see Ruth feeding her pig
cons; they knew her so well, and they
were SO tame that they p .rchsd on her
arms, on her shoulders. even at times
on the dainty golden brown head. This
June morning they seemed TO know
that the sun had rcpentnd OF its surii-
ness, and they were wild with delight,
How she enjoyed the happiness. She
talked to them, sang TO them; she gave
th"m fresh corn; sh. iuEht them. kiss
ed them and let them 20 again,
oh, how | wish | were a pigeOnl"
said voice near to ner md looking up
she saw Laurence RGintOn.
''IlOw | wish that ! were a pigeon"
he repeated.
Ruth laughed the delicious musical
laugh that made one feel inclined tor
away with her
You would be a clumsy one. Lau-
renee. You would not circle and soar
as these do"
Il might if | were pig on" he said.
"Ah, but you are not. she replied.
Are you not glad to see the sun Shin
ing again. Laurp 1t is weeks since
We have had on fine day. Ny father
says this year Should be called the year
of rain | hope il is over. ! have
thought a great de@l aboUt the Deluge
and NOah's ark lHt"ly." she added.
simply. How DIRE dful it must have
been-rain, rain. nothing but rain. I'm
agine the white dove out on the wild
world of waters, with not even one
branch to rest upon. | am glad that the
world is never to be drowned again.
She believed as i'm j ty that the
rainbow was the pnrpetuAlly recurring
sign of Gods prOm'ss us you, reader,
believe in Heaven.
Laurence thought how beautiful and
spiritual she lOo.ird. H. felt himself
long way frOm her He had never
thought about the u llgt or Noah or
the rainbow; yet in 1t : own fas ion he
had suffered much from the inc .sSant
rain.
1T will take s IN dtys for tla san ~
dry the earth even now he Sll
She was so perfectly accustomed to
his presence, and so completely unem-
barrassed by it. that she went on feed
ing her pigeons and singing Just as if he
were not there. Always the same song;
it was her fayorite. She sang it at all
times, and in all SeasOns-a sweet, sad
song, that told of the SOrrows of some
one who lived at bonnie Doom"
"Ye banks and braes of Bonnie Doom,
How can yc look SO fresh and fair?'
I'm after years, when the cruel thorn
had worked its worst. he knew how
prophetic that song had been.
Miss Vaughan" he said. She called
him Laurence. because she felt that he
was boy compared with herself but
he never dared to call her Ruth. Miss
Vaughan, have often wondered why
you like that song so much. You sing
it when you feed the pigeons, when you
gather fruit or flowers, when you are in
the dairy. Whenever | come you are
always singing about Bonnie Doom
She laughed the sweet. silyery laugh
no one could resist.
II did not know il" she said; but it
is my favorite song. Ny father likes it
too; he is never tired of it. So soon as
the cleaning falls, and he comes in from
the farm, the first thing he ask for is
'Ye banks and braes,' but he always
calls it Bonnie Doom; and do you know,
Laurence, that his favorite name for me
il Bonnie DOOM"
1t is very pretty name, " he replied,
"even prettier than your own. wish
you would Let me- call You Bonnie
Doom"
No, no one but my father must ever